Quarterbacks #20-11:
Depending on the size of your league, these quarterbacks could be your starters heading into week one. These players have the same upside as the top 10 quarterbacks, but consistency, injury history or a lack of experience keeps them from being every week starters.
20. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
In nine out of 16 games last season, Andy Dalton scored 16 or more fantasy points (Drew Brees had eight). He may not be a name you target on draft day but anytime a quarterback has a top five wide receiver that they are throwing too, they can be useful in fantasy.
19. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears-
This is a popular pick for a sleeper at quarterback. Chicago added Allen Robinson to give him a legitimate target but other then Robinson, it’s ugly. Trey Burton could finish the season top 10 in targets at tight end but it’s hard to buy in on Trubisky. Don’t have Trubisky as your only quarterback on the roster because there’s a lot of risk, but the upside is here with Trubisky and he adds value with his legs.
18. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Marcus Mariota had only two games last season where he threw for over 300 yards and no games of throwing for more than two touchdowns. He threw more interceptions (15) then touchdowns (13) and the reason why you would draft him is because of his rushing ability. He finished eighth in rushing yards at the position (312) and was tied for third in rushing touchdowns (5). Rushing touchdowns are hard to predict for a quarterback but if he stays aggressive with his legs he will have value as a borderline every week starter.
17. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes has a huge, accurate arm and he has explosive playmakers at the skill positions. He rushed for 22 touchdowns in his college career and that is a nice bonus if he can maintain value with his legs. There’s a reason that the Chiefs took him with the 10th pick of the 2017 draft and he could be the breakout player at the quarterback position in 2018. Big upside and he is worth the risk as a low-end QB1 this year
16. Case Keenum, Denver Broncos
Case Keenum finished the season as the second most accurate passer (completing 67.6 percent of his passes) and as the 14th ranked fantasy quarterback. Keenum showed his upside by scoring 25 or more fantasy points in four games last season and he is a good second quarterback to have on your roster. He will have Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to throw passes too and he should be a reliable option for when your first quarterback gets hurt or is on a bye week.
15. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan finished as the number two quarterback in 2016 and fell to the 15th best in 2017. The Falcons drafted Calvin Ridley in the first round to give him another playmaker to throw the ball to. He is more 2017 Matt Ryan than 2016 but if the team lets him be more aggressive he will move up the ranks quickly and could be a steal in this year’s draft. High upside but could be on the waiver wire early.
14. Alex Smith, Washington Redskins
Alex Smith is a quarterback you can draft late this season and get top tier production. He protects the football (throws an interception on only one percent of his pass attempts) and he’s sneaky good with his legs (finished sixth in rushing yards with 355). Kirk Cousins finished as the fourth-ranked quarterback last season with Washington and expect Alex Smith to put up solid numbers as well.
13. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams keep acquiring playmakers for Jared Goff. Brandin Cooks now gives him someone who can stretch the field and be another reliable weapon. Goff is still a match-up based quarterback and last season when he faced weaker defenses, he scored over 20 fantasy points six times. If you play him in the right match-up, he is a potential top-10 option.
12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
2017 was a season of two halves for Big Ben. The first half of the season he was average. He threw 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions with an 82.7 QBR. From week nine on he was much better, he threw 18 touchdowns and only five interceptions with a 103.6 QBR. He is a better fantasy option at home than on the road but when he’s healthy he is more than capable of finishing the season as a top-10 option most weeks.
11. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
There is a lot of hype heading into the season over Jimmy G but let’s not get too crazy. He threw for only seven touchdowns in the six games that he started but he is in a great system under Kyle Shanahan that help Matt Ryan win the 2016 MVP award. He isn’t safe enough to be the only quarterback option on a roster, but he does have the upside to finish the season in the top 10 at the position.
